EU 'Kids Act' Proposes Bloc-Wide Ban on Social Media for Under-13s and Limits Teen Access

On September 17, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen formally introduced a legislative framework designed to block children under 13 from accessing social media platforms across all 27 member states.[1][2]

The proposed "Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable and Trustworthy" Act—branded the EU Kids Act—replaces the current patchwork of national age limits with a single, bloc-wide standard.[1][5]

"Today, our children are engaging with the most sophisticated technologies ever created. Technology that was never created with their wellbeing in mind," von der Leyen said in a statement accompanying the rollout. "Our KIDS Act is reversing the burden of proof - it is for platforms to show they are safe by design."[1]

The draft legislation establishes a strict, three-tiered approach to digital autonomy. Children under the age of 13 would face a blanket prohibition on creating social media accounts. They would only be permitted to access specifically designated, child-friendly video-sharing services through an account directly controlled by a parent or guardian.[1][3]

To enforce these age brackets, self-declared birth dates will no longer suffice. The legislation requires platforms to implement certified age verification tools to gate access, effectively ending the era of users simply checking a box to confirm they are old enough to proceed. The European Commission plans to rely on privacy-preserving age assurance applications that do not collect biometric data or retain identity documents.[1][4]

For young teenagers aged 13 and 14, the framework mandates that platforms offer restricted "mini accounts". These supervised profiles must be managed through a guardian's account and are legally required to cap daily screen time at exactly one hour. The mini accounts must also limit social contacts to known peers and disable algorithmic content discovery.[1][4]

Once users reach the age of 15, they are permitted to open independent accounts, but the platforms hosting them must still adhere to strict operational constraints. The legislation explicitly targets engagement-driven architecture, banning infinite scrolling, variable reward loops, and push notifications during sleeping hours for all users under 18. Minors' profiles must be set to private by default, with geolocation and microphone access disabled.[1][2][4]

The regulatory scope extends significantly beyond traditional social networks to encompass video games, app stores, and artificial intelligence. AI companions and conversational chatbots must be disabled by default on any platform accessible to minors. Furthermore, the legislation prohibits these systems from mimicking friendly or emotional relationships that children might rely upon.[3][4][5]

To enforce these standards, the Commission is fundamentally altering the regulatory dynamic. Rather than regulators hunting for violations after a product launches, technology companies must submit compliance plans and independent audits demonstrating their services do not harm children before they are deployed.[1][2]

The financial stakes for non-compliance are severe. Providers of social media platforms, online games, and AI chatbots that fail to adhere to the safety-by-design principles face penalties of up to 6% of their worldwide annual turnover. The proposal now moves to the European Parliament and the Council for negotiation, setting the stage for a protracted legislative battle over the future of the European internet.[1][2][6]